7 Ways Julianne Hough’s Diet And Exercise Has Changed Over The Past Year

Julianne Hough’s always doing something new, be it transitioning from dancing to judging Dancing With The Stars, to acting, to singing (remember Grease Live?), to working with her husband, Brooks Laich, to launch Love United, a nonprofit that builds wells in Africa. It’s no surprise, then, that her workout routine is equally varied. What she swears by one month may be totally different the next.

“I love shocking my body by doing different things,” she says. “I go through different waves of where I’m at, personally and mentally. Sometimes, I’m more relaxed, doing yoga and low-intensity things about two or three times a week. Usually, I’m like a five-to-six-times-a-week person, and it’s very high intensity.”

Hough and Laich love trying new things, so it’s only fitting they partnered with Propel Co:Labs to be the ambassadors of its exercise festivals, featuring all different approaches to wellness. “Every style of fitness is here, from yoga to high-intensity workouts, and there’s food and live music and activities,” she explains. A portion of the proceeds benefit the couple’s nonprofit, and though the festival doesn't launch until May 5 (more details here), it's already introduced Hough to new ways to get her fitness on. Here's how.

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1She’s Rethinking Everything She Knew About Being Healthy.

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“I think in the past, I’ve done things that people have told me were good — have a protein shake, or do this or eat that. I’m starting a test mode where I question that advice and test everything, and see what really works for me,” Hough says. “I always thought I can’t eat before a workout, because it makes me too full, but maybe I’m just eating the wrong things.”

2She Works Out With Her Husband, But Their Routines Are Totally Different.

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Hough and Laich are fitness-obsessed, but their approaches vary wildly. “He’s into heavy lifting and mobility, creating the most athletic man he can be. Whether it’s speed, agility, or strength, he’s trying to do it all,” Hough explains. “Obviously, women do his type of workout as well, but it’s not my first choice. I’m more about trying to have fun and look long and lean.”

3She Plans Her Sleep Schedule As Much As Her Workouts.

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“Your workout is just one part of staying healthy — the rest is sleeping and what you put into your body,” Hough says. She makes time in her schedule to exercise, and she’s just as likely to budget her sleep in, too, to make sure she doesn’t spread herself too thin.

4She Takes An "F" It Approach To Her Workouts.

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But not the f-word that immediately springs to mind. “I’m into fun cardio,” Hough says. “I need to find something I’m passionate about that doesn’t feel like a workout.”

These days, that’s a mix of Body By Simone’s trampoline classes, dance, pilates, and other group fitness classes that make her feel like she’s hanging out with friends.

5She’s All About That High-Quality H2O.

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The one thing she knows for sure about her diet is what a difference drinking plenty of water makes. “I have this water bottle that goes everywhere with me. Every night, before bed, I put ice in it and fill it to the top — it holds 40 ounces of water — and I drink it throughout the night. Not all of it, obviously, but I have to have cold water before I go to bed,” she says.

6She Mixes Up Her Diet Constantly.

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Just like her workouts, Hough can’t stand the same old, same old food. She’s continually trading out her breakfasts — eggs one morning, avocado toast or yogurt with granola the next — so she doesn’t get bored.

7She Does Have One Surprising Vice.

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The woman with abs of steel doesn’t always eat clean, and she’ll happily admit it. On her Move tour last year, Hough and her brother, Derek, came up with a surprising lunch they secretly loved: peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches — stuffed with salt and vinegar chips for crunch. And tanginess.

“I had peanut butter and banana sandwiches as a kid, and in England, we’d put chips in our sandwiches, so one day, we just combined them, and it was so good,” she says.

At the end of the day, she’s all about whatever works for you — including your go-to sandwich.

Candace Braun DavisonDeputy EditorCandace Braun Davison writes and produces videos on a range of lifestyle content, from celebrity interviews to home tours—and the occasional 12-pound cheeseburger.

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